Ransomware is one of the most pervasive and costly forms of malware afflicting businesses and consumers today. The term describes a broad family of hostile computer viruses that infiltrate computer servers, PCs, laptops, tablets, smartphones, and other computerized devices like ATMs and airline check-in kiosks. Rather than stealing valuable information from the device, ransomware aims to deny users access to the files and data stored on it. The simpler “blocker” form presents a screen that prevents users from accessing the computer’s desktop. The more sophisticated and destructive “encryption” form of ransomware goes much further: it encrypts (mathematically scrambles) the user’s files. Both types present a screen instructing the user to pay an online ransom to an untraceable recipient, for which the attacker promises to unlock the system.

Ransomware-wielding criminals rely on user fear and ignorance to extort payment, increasing the pressure on victims to pay quickly with tactics like a running countdown timer that specifies an approaching payment deadline of days or hours. If the user pays up, the attacker will provide the mathematical key that can be used to unscramble the files, or instructions on how to remove the blocker.

Acronis Ransomware Protection is now available!

Acronis Ransomware Protection is a software suite that ensures the security of information on your PC. It combines two features that supplement each other to provide you with enhanced protection of your personal data:

- Based on a heuristics approach and ML-technology, it monitors processes and prevents files from unauthorized encryption.- Protects from the latest ransomware including Petya, WannaCry, Osiris, and Bad Rabbit.- Active Protection dashboard shows the current number of the processes being analyzed and the current number of suspicious processes that act similar to ransomware behavior.- With the Process management functionality, you can trust or block applications to allow or prohibit them running on the computer.

File-level continuous backup to Acronis Cloud:- With 5 GB of free cloud storage, you can protect your data not only during a ransomware attack, but also from disk failures, disasters, and accidental deletions.- Changes to the protected files are automatically uploaded to the cloud storage every 15 minutes, to keep the backup up-to-date.- You can access your files in Acronis Cloud from anywhere on any Internet-enabled device, share them, or download for further reuse.- Backup Statistics graphically represent content of a backup, provide statistics for backed-up file categories such as documents, photos, videos, music, and others.

System requirements

Hardware requirements:A CPU that supports SSE instructionsOperating systems:Windows 10 (all editions)Windows 8.1 (all editions)Windows 8 (all editions)Windows 7 SP1 (all editions)It is possible for the software to work on other Windows operating systems, but it is not guaranteed.

Other requirements:An Internet connectionAdministrator privileges to run Acronis Ransomware Protection